Former Congressman Michael R. McNulty delivered the keynote address to more than 1,000 graduates and their families at the University at Albany’s Winter Commencement on Sunday, December 6, at the SEFCU Arena on the uptown campus.

New York Senator Charles Schumer had been scheduled to speak but was called to Washington, D.C., for rare Sunday meetings and votes pertaining to health care reform. He asked McNulty to speak on his behalf.

McNulty spoke about his admiration for Sen. Schumer, a great friend of the university, then advised the graduates to continue the spirit of giving and keep a gratitude list.

McNulty served in the U.S. House of Representatives for two decades, starting in 1989. McNulty represented the district containing UAlbany for all 20 years of his tenure in Congress. He visited the University on multiple occasions, including in April 2008 when he delivered the Burton Lecture.

During Winter Commencement, the University awarded 536 bachelor's degrees and 553 graduate degrees, including 364 master's and 120 doctoral degrees. Psychology and history were the top majors for undergraduate degree candidates. The graduating class became part of the global network of more than 147,000 living alumni.

The undergraduate commencement class hailed from nine U.S. states and 26 foreign countries, including Peru, Korea and Albania. Undergraduates were 51 percent women and 49 percent men, and included 10 military veterans. The youngest graduate was 18 while the oldest was 58. Six percent were 30 years old or older.

During commencement ceremonies, student leader Allison Leventhal, a Queens native, addressed the graduates, families and friends. Leventhal, who graduated with a master’s degree in mental health counseling, also received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UAlbany in 2008.